Chapter Text
Looks like today's gonna be a fucking interesting one.
One day, I'm burning under the Mexican sun, and the next I'm freezing my ass off somewhere deep in Russia.
Honestly, I was relieved to leave Mexico.
That op had started to drag once I handled the core of the job; successfully interrogating a cartel boss. After I passed all the intel to Los Vaqueros, they shelved me, told me to wait for whatever came next.
But before anything else could happen, Laswell threw me on a plane to God knows where in Russia.
Apparently, some task force managed to royally screw up a basic intel mission on a Russian terrorist. Now, they needed someone to rescue one of their own.
Kate hadn't given me much intel. Classic. I'm used to working blind by now. It's one of my specialties. That, sniping and persuasive interrogations.
All she told me was that I needed to extract the task force member. Male. Brown hair. Mohawk. That's all I have to identify him. Really helpful.
So here I am, lying in the snow, sniper in hand, eyes locked on the scope scanning for my target. The cold is freezing my fingers even through my gloves, and every breath stabs my lungs like a blade. To make things worse, the snow beneath me crunches way too loudly every time I adjust my position.
Russian weather complicates everything, but it doesn’t stop me from doing my job. I've already spotted a sniper on the rooftop and another guy standing at the main entrance.
“Echo, what's your status?” Kate's voice cracks through comms.
“No visual yet. Still searching. Balls frozen solid.”
“Echo... you don't have any, remember? Stay focused.”
I smirk, already halfway through a smartass comeback, when something catches my eye.
A man steps out from the right side of the building, dragging someone behind him. Has to be the task force guy.
The bastard shoves him hard into the snow, barking something I can’t catch from this distance. The hostage slumps forward, blood streaked across his face. They stay still, either waiting for backup or preparing for the next step.
I adjust my aim slightly and take a closer look. That's when my chest seizes. Even with the blood, the distance, I know that face.
“Fucking hell... is that... Is that Soap? My Soap? Kate, why the hell didn't you tell me?” I snap.
“Didn't want you to overreact. Clearly failed at that.”
“Shit...” I mutter. “Of course you failed. What were you thinking?”
It feels like someone kicked the air out of my lungs. The same face. The same stupid haircut.
There's no mistaking... It's John 'Soap' MacTavish.
We'd served in the same para unit back in the day. We were really close. He wasn't just a friend, he was my best friend. The kind you'd trust with your life.
Then one day, Kate recruited me for special ops. I didn't get a say in it. Overnight, I was gone. No warning, no goodbye. No one knew, not even Soap. I just disappeared. Like I'd never been there. Like I'd never existed.
The move was supposed to be low-profile. Under the radar, to protect my new position.
So yeah, reuniting with Soap now? It's going to be something.
“Echo, you still with me?”
It took me two more seconds to pull myself together and answer. It had been a long time since I'd let emotions hit me like this during a mission.
“Affirmative. Hostage in sight, one guard with him. Sniper on the rooftop, another armed asshole at the main entrance” I say, shifting my aim to the sniper first.
“Let's give their brains some fresh air...”
“Always with the jokes. Just take the shot, Echo.” Kate replies, clearly exasperated, still not used to my sense of humor after all these years.
Back in my serious state, I don’t say a word before pulling the trigger. The sniper drops instantly. Less than a second later, the guy at the entrance follow.
I shift to the last one, the guard, and squeeze the trigger a third time before he even has a chance to react to all the noise. His head explodes under the impact, blood splattering across the snow... and all over Soap, who now looks around, stunned, trying to locate the source of the shots.
“All targets down. No other hostiles in sight, area looks clear for now. Gave the floor and the hostage a fresh red coat.”
“Echo...” Kate starts, then sighs, clearly too drained to deal with me.
“Secure the hostage and move to extraction point.”
“Roger that. Moving to the hostage.” I reply, getting to my feet and slinging my sniper over my back.
I move quickly toward Soap, staying low and crouched, keeping an eye on the building and its horizon.
There shouldn't be any other hostiles in the area for now. Still, I have to move fast, just in case someone shows up sooner than expected.
As I get closer, Soap lifts his head toward me. His eyes are blazing with anger. He is trying to free himself, but I can already tell it is a lost cause without the proper tools.
I stop in front of him, one hand on my hip, the other pulling off my face mask.
“Hello there” I say in my best Obi-Wan impression, mask off “Looks like you're still alive. Thanks to me.” I add, pointing at myself with a grin.
“Ro... Rowan?!” He blurts, eyes wide with shock “Oh my fucking god. I am dead.”
“Nah... Nah you're not, Soapy Soap. I'm here. You're alive. And we need to extract fast before more motherfucking Russians show up looking for your pretty face.”
I slip behind him and cut through the bindings with my knife.
Before I can react, he throws himself at me.
A hug? Maybe a shoulder clap?
Nope, a fucking slap. Right across my face.
I blink, stunned.
“You're alive! I thought you were dead! You're such a bitch Rowan. And don't you dare call me that name!” He snaps.
I don't flinch, not this time, but the sting crawls under my skin like old ghosts. He knows what I'd been through, first with my 'family' then with the Lieutenant. He knows how hard it had been. But that didn't stop him from landing that slap like I hadn't already taken enough hits in my life. That's what makes it worse.
Before I could even process more, he was already throwing the next wave.
“And even if you're alive, why the hell are you here? Did Price call you in? Do you even know him? Is this coming fro-“
“Just shut the fuck up!” I cut him off, the words coming out sharper than I intended
I instantly regret it.
He doesn't know anything about my disappearance. How could he? I understand his anger. Really. But his slap, his words... they still fucking hurt.
I put my knife away and reach for the weapon strapped to my calf, handing it to him without a word.
“Echo, how copy?” Kate says through comms. I nearly jump at the sound of her voice.
“Copy. Hostage secured. Heading to extraction.” I reply, turning back to Soap.
“We have to move. Now. More Russians could show up any second, and we've got an hour's hike to the helicopter.”
He doesn't answer. His eyes are still a mix of rage and disbelief.
I don't wait. I turn around and start to walk fast through the snow.
A few seconds later, I hear him following close behind me. Not like he has much of a choice. I turn slightly, just enough to throw him a look over my shoulder without slowing down.
“Oh, and hm... you still hit like a little girl, MacTavish.” I say with a smirk.
Then I turn my back to him again and pick up the pace, not giving him the chance to reply.
We walk like that for a while, silence hanging between us like fog, until I hear something to my left, deep in the trees.
I stop instantly, scanning the trees for the source of the noise. Soap stops beside me, he heard it too.
We both drop low to the ground. I give him a quick hand signal, motioning for him to circle around the right. He nods silently and moves without a sound. Injured or not, he still has it.
I break off to the left, staying low and quiet. Whoever it is, we are going to trap them.
As I get closer to the source of the noise, I rise slightly to have a better view and that's when I recognize the figure moving through the trees.
I stand up fully, a smile already forming.
“Nikolai? What the hell are you doing here? Taking a casual hike?” I chuckle “You're not scared of dying, are you?”
Soap springs up behind him, gun raised and aimed straight at him. But the second he sees Nikolai's face, his eyebrows shoot up and the gun drops.
“Nikolai?” He repeats, surprise clear in his voice.
“Ahhh MacTavish! How are you, my friend? They didn't treat you too harshly, I hope?” Nikolai says, his thick Russian accent cutting through the air as he makes his way over to Soap, slapping him on the shoulder with a grin like it's just a normal day.
“So, I was really the only one here who didn't know I was saving the Scottish guy, huh?”
“You didn't know, Rowan?” Soap asks, surprise in his eyes.
“No, MacTavish. I don't usually get full briefings for my missions.” I reply, my voice tight.
“Anyway, no time for a reunion. We need to move, Nikolai. Before some fucker shows up to take MacTavish back.”
Nikolai nods “Good to go, Wraith.”
“Wraith?” Soap repeats, looking at me with a hint of amusement.
“And what's wrong with that? Hm? You think Soap is better?” I shoot back, eyebrows raised.
I move past him, following Nikolai to the helicopter.
Once we are inside, I drop into a seat with a loud sigh, my sniper resting between my legs. Soap sits down in front of me.
Nikolai doesn't waste time, we land fast.
“Look, Rowan... I'm sorry about earlier. For the slap” Soap says, meeting my eyes.
“Soap, it's okay. Or, no. No, it's not. But I get it.”
I lower my gaze for a second, watching the floor between us, before looking back up at him.
“I disappeared. You thought I was dead. I understand the shock. Really. Just... maybe next time, go for a hug instead of a slap, yeah?” I let out a small chuckle, trying to ease the tension just a little.
“Let's hope we don't go through that again... but yeah. A hug sounds good.” He smiles, though the guilt hadn't quite left his eyes.
I smile back and choose silence for the rest of the flight. No need for more words. Not now.
Soon enough, we touch down for a quick refuel stop. After a blur of paperwork and engine checks, we’re back in the air, heading for England. Soap doesn’t need urgent medical care, so we can make the trip in one go.
When we finally reach the base, I pull my mask on and jump out of the helicopter, Soap close behind.
Kate is waiting for us on the tarmac, and beside her stands a man with a wide grin spreading across his face the moment he spots Soap.
“Soap! Happy to see you in one piece.” The man says, giving him a friendly slap on the shoulder.
“Aye, happy too, Price” Soap replies with a smirk.
So, there he is, Price, the one Soap had mentioned earlier. Tall, easily two heads above me, with a strange beard and a beanie. Built solid, calm on the outside, but with a look that says he'd seen everything already.
And yeah... if I'm being honest? Pretty damn good looking.
He turns toward me.
“So, you're the savior Kate called for backup, huh?” He says, sarcasm in every syllable, clearly not thrilled someone else had handled the mess.
“Savior? Oh no, you can't say that. It was nothing, really. An easy rescue, you know?” I reply with a grin. “Not a big deal. At least... not for me.”
He raises an eyebrow, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. He opens his mouth to say something, but before he can get the words out, someone else approaches.
Different vibe entirely.
“Johnny! Good to see you alive, but damn, you look like hell. Time for the infirmary. Come on.”
The guy gives Soap a warm pat on the shoulder and smiles. He glances my way, brief, but friendly. He doesn't feel like a threat. No idea who he is, but he definitely gave off a good vibe. Unlike Price.
Then someone else joins them. Taller than Soap, maybe even taller than Price. Wearing a skull mask.
He moves silently to their side, and at first, I don't think much of it, until I notice the way he is looking at me. His brows are drawn, gaze sharp and cold, locked onto me with the kind of intensity that makes your skin crawl.
“Huh?” I mutter under my breath, raising an eyebrow. What the hell is his problem?
It wasn't just a mean look. It felt personal. Like he looked straight through me... and didn't like what he saw. My spine instantly prickles. Don't know who he is. Don't like the way he looked at me.
Kate clears her throat to bring my attention back.
“John, lead us to the meeting room, please.”
“For what?” Price asks, more irritated than curious.
“You'll know soon enough”
He grumbles, clearly not thrilled, but doesn’t argue. He turns and starts walking, leading the way. We follow in silence.
Once inside the meeting room, we all take a seat. I end up next to a tense and irritated Price.
“Alright. I know this isn't going to be easy to hear, especially considering the last few minutes.”
“Whose fault is that?” Price cut in sharply.
“John” Kate snaps, shooting him a glare.
I lean back, arms crossed, smirking. “So? What's the big news, Kate? Lemme guess, you and Sheperd getting married?”
I can swear I hear Price choke back a laugh, but when I glance at him, it’s like nothing happened.
“No” She says flatly “You're joining Price's Task Force 141. Effective immediately.”
“What?!” Price and I shout in perfect sync, both half-rising from our seats.
“You're joking” I say, looking down at her “Please tell me this is just your twisted attempt at my kind of humor.”
“No joke. It's official. You're being reassigned and you'll report directly to Price from now on.”
“Fuck, no. You can't be serious.”
“She is” Price mutters “Bloody hell.”
My jaw tightens. “And what if I say no?”
“You don't” Kate says “You handled the rescue perfectly. Your sniping and interrogation skills are a real asset to this team.”
“Perfect. Just what we needed. A fucking pain in the ass.” Price mutters, shooting me a glare.
“You seem to attract them, John” Kate says with a smirk, then turns to me “Welcome to Task Force 141, Rowan.”
Yeah. Fucking welcome to me.